Xbox 360 Pro price drop to hit July 13th

Microsoft's anticipated $50 price drop on the Xbox 360 Pro should take effect this coming Sunday, a note leaked to Kotaku shows. GameStop stores in the US are being given new shelf art saying the 20GB version of the game console should sell for $300 but also notices that the information won't be made public until July 13th, a day ahead of the formal start of the E3 gaming expo. No other information appears to have accompanied the cut.

The drop rekindles the competition between Microsoft and PS3 maker Sony, both of which for the past several months have been only $50 apart in price. It also puts the fully-equipped console into better competition with Nintendo's Wii, which has kept the same $250 price since its November 2006 launch both through a lack of immediate rivals as well as continued shortages that have come along with very high demand.

No clues have yet surfaced of a similar cut by Sony for the 40GB PS3 or of changes to any other Xbox models; the $300 price is only slightly above that of the driveless Xbox 360 Arcade and potentially hints at an end to the basic console as well as a change to the high end. Reports have surfaced of a possible 60GB Xbox 360 that may fill the now vacant price point.